Lance Armstrong has confessed to Oprah Winfrey that during his cycling career he used performance-enhancing drugs, according to reports.

The 41 year old was interviewed by talk show host Winfrey on Monday night for the show that is due to be broadcast on Thursday, and according to the AP news agency, the disgraced cyclist finally ended over a decade of denial.

Whilst full details of the interview are to be kept secret until Thursday, Winfrey did say on Twitter afterwards:

"Just wrapped with @lancearmstrong. More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY!"

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year the US Anti-Doping Agency found him a "serial cheat" who was involved in, "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping regime the sport has ever seen".

In what they labelled, "one of the most sordid chapters in sports history," the report said that it had found proof not only that Armstrong took performance-enhancing drugs, but that he also expected his team-mates to do the same.

Armstrong has always denied the charges, but is now believed to have not only confided with Oprah on air, but also told fellow staff of charity he set up, Livestrong, that he regretted what the controversy had put them through and was sorry for letting them down.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner